accessories & other adventures

Function Meets Fashion with Wearable Tech

Technology is no longer something we hold onto or put in our purse or pocket — it’s something we wear on our body; it’s something that touches our skin. While most wearable tech focuses on the wrist (Fitbit and Apple Watch) and has a sporty look, there are numerous designs hitting the markets which encompass fashion with function. Sensors, conductive threads, 3D printing, and microcomputers promise to extend an object’s capabilities in ways we never imagined.

If I plan to invest in a piece of wearable tech, I want it to look pretty and seamlessly blend with my existing jewellery style. I love the classic designs Wisewear has to offer. You can go straight from the gym to the office to a night out because their pieces actually look like elegant jewellery.

I mean just look at it! It reminds me of the Cartier Love bangle. Photo by Wisewear.

Just like Fitbit it tracks your steps, distance covered and calories burned. It allows you to receive notifications from your phone via Bluetooth with a gentle vibration. Considering most people don’t actually leave their Bluetooth on, I would find this feature a little pointless. However, what sets this wearable tech piece apart is its distress messaging system. Three taps on the back side and it will notify your emergency contact that you are in danger. Great for those first date horror stories!

Wear it as a necklace, wrap it around your wrist or clip it to your clothes. Photo by Bella Beat.

While daily activity tracking is quite common in all wearable tech pieces, the Bella Beat Leaf necklace/bracelet/clip is so much more. The Bluetooth connected app monitors your sleeping patterns, offers guided meditation and breathing exercises and incorporates a period tracker. It’s most known for its stress prediction capability. Stress is something we face and are constantly bombarded with activities to curb it. This feature takes into account your data and lifestyle habits to predict when it’s time to be proactive to reduce the onset of stress before it happens. I don’t personally know the reliability of this product but its modern design, water-resistant capability and overall good reviews make me what to consider it.

Photo by Oura.

The last piece of wearable tech is creepy because it knows more about you than you know yourself. The Oura ring knows when you fall asleep and when you wake up. It captures 250 samples per second for a constant flow of reliable data to detect your pulse, body temperature and activity level. It takes tracking to a whole new level. This thing would be judging me all day – in the shower and while I sleep as well! Sorry, but I’m out on this one.